The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-06
THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR.

THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR.
War is always to be deplored, yet it il al
ways among The possibilities Peace should
be preserved if possible, but not peace With
ont honor 1t may become necessary for
nation to fight for its rights and its honor,
and in that case war is better than peace. A
war between the United States and England |
Is very remote possibility, yet not so
remote that it might not happen. Neither |
nation desires war, each respects the others |
fighting qualities and would prefer to avoid
war if possible. In all probability it will be
avoided for long time to come. Yet it may
come unexpectedly. A comparatively trifing
controversy may lead the two governments to
point where one or the other cannot recede
without loss of honor or a surrender of
rights, and in that case war would be almost
unavoidable. The Canadian fishery dispute
involves some nice questions Of treaty rights
and international law, and has reached point
where it will require judicious handling
10 avoid trouble. 1t involves the possibility
event, there would doubtless be some months
diplomatic correspondence and information
sparring before actual hostilities would be-
AS yet the British government has taken
lsle interest and paid little attention to
the matter. The controversy is between the
United States and the Dominion, and this in
wolves more danger, because they are such
near neighbours When the home government
finds the controversy is really assuming a
threatening aspect, approaching the danger
point, it may exert itself to bring speedy
settlement. But possibly not. Great Britain
is proverbially tenacious of her rghts-a great
sfickler for all that belongs to her. and more
too-and she may back up Canada's claims
strongly. The situation is giving rise to
good deal of war talk of one kind and another
on our side and some in Canada, but little or
none as yet in England They take very lit
tie interest in American affairs over there,
and have not yet awakened to the fact that
the present controversy involves grave posi-
bilities. Perhaps they will soon.
In the event of a war with Great Britain
would the United States be at a great dsad-
vantage9 Perhaps in some respects and for a
short time, yes; in most respects and in the
long run, no. A good deal has been said about
our lack of coast defenses and navy. Much
Of the talk on this line has been cowardly. At
present we are weak and somewhat vulnera-
BILE in those two respects but these def
ciencies would be soon remedied. At first we
should be at some disadvantage in this re-
gard, though by no means wholly defenseless,
and with our great resources and engineering
skill it would take but very short time to
prepare the means of defending our coast and
coping with England on the seas. In all
other respects we should have the advantage
from the start. Our sixty millions of people
. are uniteo, while Great Britain has about all
she can do to preserve order at home. She
would haze to hold Ireland with one hand
while fighting us with the other. Although
we have no standing army to speak of, we
possess immense military resources. The
United States could mobilize very large
army OH YER, short notice. There are thou
sands of veterans, officers and soldiers Of the
late war; who would spring to arms at the
first call-enough to form good-sized army
Of disciplined soldiers. We could overrun
Canada while British navy was crossing the
ocean, and once there they could never dis.
ioSge us. The possession of Canada would be
the objective point of the war, and it would
be waged on Canadian SOIL Great Britain
sould not send troops enough to hold Canada
and invade the United States At first there
would be some lively fighting along the
Canadian border, but with the immense force
we could concentrate the fighting would al
most Immediately be transferred from the
border TO the interior of the country We
sould capture and hold Canada with one hand
and whip England on the ocean with the
other.